How to Restore Files

Overview

Salesforce files are stored as ContentVersion records and linked to standard or custom objects (e.g., Accounts, Contacts, Cases). When a file is deleted from a record, it is essential to restore the associated ContentVersion to recover the file. This article provides an example of the process involved in restoring a deleted file using Backup & Archive. It covers how to identify the correct backup, prepare the restore, and confirm the results.

Key Concept

To recover a deleted file, restore the ContentVersion object. While files may reference other objects, such as ContentDocument or ContentDocumentLink, recovering the ContentVersion is usually sufficient.

Restoring records with Backup & Archive is a two-step process:

• Create a Restore Request: Identify what to restore before making any changes to your org.

• Run Restoration: Verify the data to restore, then execute the restoration.

For more background on the restore process and links to detailed instructions, see the following article.

• Overview of Restore

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Recover a Deleted File from an Account Record

This guide provides instructions for testing the Backup & Archive recovery process for a file deleted in Salesforce. The restoration process consists of two main steps:

1. Create a Restore Request: Identify the records to restore before making any changes.

2. Run Restoration: Verify the data and execute the restoration.

For a detailed understanding of the restoration process, refer to the provided article.

• Overview of Restore

Tips

• Only the ContentVersion object is required to restore file content.

• Restore jobs can optionally include related objects for additional context or validation.

• Always use filters to narrow the scope and reduce processing time.

Prerequisites

To complete this example, ensure you are familiar with the following actions in Backup & Archive:

• Create Composite Backup: Creating a User-Defined Composite Backup

• Create Restore Job: Creating a Backup Restore Job (Preparation)

• Execute Restore Job: Execute the Restore

Simulate Accidental File Deletion

To restore a file with Backup & Archive, you must simulate a file being accidentally deleted. The following is an example of how to create this situation. The steps below assume you know the basics of creating a composite backup. For more detailed guidance, see the following article.

• Creating a User-Defined Composite Backup

1

Add a File to a Record

• In your Salesforce org.

• Navigate to an Account record (e.g., ACME Brick).

• Upload a file (e.g., PDF) under Notes & Attachments.

  

2

Run a Backup

• In Backup & Archive.

• Run a composite backup job.

• This becomes your Correct Backup, a backup version containing the file.

3

Delete the File

• In your Salesforce org.

• Manually delete the file from the Account record.

4

Run a Second Backup

• In Backup & Archive.

• Run another composite backup job.

• This becomes your Compromised Backup, which no longer includes the file.

  

Prepare the Restore

With both backups ready, you can now set up the Restore job. The steps below assume you know the basics of creating a restore job. For more detailed guidance, see the following article.

• Creating a Backup Restore Job (Preparation)

1

Create Backup Restore Job and Select Backups

• In Backup & Archive, click Restore from the left sidebar.

• Click Backup to create a backup restore job.

• Select the Compromised Backup, and click Next.

  
• Select the Correct Backup, and click Next.

  

2

Choose Objects to Restore

• Click Add Objects to select objects to restore.

  • (Recommended) Check the Account object to allow for filtering by account name.

  • (Required) Check the Content Version object to include the object type in which the file is stored.

    
• (Recommended) Apply Filters.

  • For example, to filter for just the account record that the file was deleted from, create a filter for the Account object to filter for Name equals ACME Brick

    
• Click Next once you are done adding objects and filters.

  

3

Object Settings and Create Request

• (Optional) Automation Settings: Disable workflow rules, triggers, and flows if needed.

• Click Next to go to the Retrieve Data step.

  
• Review and click Create Request to start the Restore Request job.

  

Execute the Restore

Now that the restore request has been created, the next step is to restore the file. The steps below assume you know the basics of executing a restore job. For more detailed guidance, see the following article.

• Running a Restore Job (Execution)

1

Wait for the Restore Request

• Check the job status on the Restore > History page.

• Wait for the Restore Request job you created to be Completed.

• Click the job.

  

2

Verify Restore Data

When the restore request is successfully created, a single ContentVersion record will be identified for restoration. This ContentVersion record contains the deleted file. Since the Account object was included for filtering purposes and no changes have been made to Accounts, no records should appear as changed.

• Click the Data tab.

  
• Confirm the following data to be restored:

  

Object	Record Count
Account	0
ContentVersion	1

The ContentVersion object has the file to restore. You can click the ContentVersion object to verify further the file details to be restored.

3

Run Restore

• Click Run restore to start restoring the deleted file.

  

4

Verify File Restored

• Log in to your Salesforce org.

• Navigate to the AMCE Brick Account record.

• Confirm the file is restored under Notes & Attachments.